Keeping your arteries free of plaque buildup reduces your risk of heart disease. Below we look at artery health: how to take care of your arteries.
When the lining of an artery becomes damaged, it allows excess cholesterol to enter the lining of the artery. This grows into plaque which narrows your arteries and or prevents proper blood flow. This can lead to a heart attack.
Although it is very hard to get rid of plaque once it builds up in your arteries, it is not impossible. A few simple lifestyle changes can help decrease plaque and improve your artery health.
4 Ways to Take Care of Your Arteries
Eat Your Vegetables
A study on Coronary Artery Disease reviewed food groups and their role in cardiovascular health. The study concluded that consuming fish, especially oily fish, and a diet rich in vegetables and fruits reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The study recommends a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, high-fiber foods, and fish twice a week. It also recommends lowering your intake of saturated and trans fats and minimizing foods and beverages with added sugars.
They also recommend lowering your cholesterol intake as it can lead to plaque buildup in arteries. The TLC diet is a great way to tackle high cholesterol.
Quit Smoking
Tobacco toxins get absorbed in the lungs, where they can enter the arteries. These toxins damage the artery lining and cause inflammation and heart disease.
Quitting is not easy, but it is possible. To reduce your risk of heart disease, quit using pipes, cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes.
Treat Any Health Conditions
High blood pressure puts added pressure on your heart and arteries, which can damage the artery lining. Work to lower your blood pressure with medication if your doctor recommends it.
Also keeping your stress at bay will do wonders to lower blood pressure. High cholesterol in your blood can lead to plaque buildup. The best way to begin lowering cholesterol levels is to change your diet.
High blood sugar and diabetes damage your nerves and arteries, allowing for plaque to form. A low-sugar diet and switching out processed foods for healthier options will help lower your blood sugar levels.
If you have any health conditions, including the ones mentioned, talk to your doctor.
Walk More
Walking improves circulation promotes the growth of new blood vessels. If you are overweight, try and lose the excess pounds. For each extra pound of fat in your body, your heart ends up pumping blood through an extra mile’s worth of blood vessels.
Walking and other aerobic exercises also make your heart stronger and lower your blood pressure, blood sugar, and improves oxygen flow through the body.
Staying Heart Healthy
Learning to take care of your arteries is the best way to start living a healthy life. By making small lifestyle changes, your quality of life can improve drastically.
Steps like eating more greens, walking more, and taking medications and supplements will get you one step closer to a healthy heart. L-arginine Plus is a great way to support your blood pressure, cholesterol and improves circulation.
By opening the blood vessels, it can help with better blood flow and help your arteries. Try it alongside exercise and healthy dieting to boost your artery health as much as possible.